‘My blessings are always with Rahul’
The decision on marriage is Athiya’s to make, says actor Suniel Shetty
Suniel Shetty, whose daughter Athiya has been dating cricketer KL Rahul for a while now, says he has left it to Athiya to decide when she wants to get married. “Athiya will get married one day. My son will get married too. It is their choice when and whether to get married. Times have changed. The daughter is as responsible as the son and I want them to take their decisions and my blessings are always there,” he says, adding, “As far as Rahul is concerned, I love the boy. It is up to them what they want to do.” Answering a question on a different topic — being wrongly tagged and trolled during the gutkha controversy involving Akshay Kumar and others — he says he does not do tobacco but that does not put a halo over his head. “I have never consumed tobacco. There are people who drink alcohol and may live longer than me. Alcohol and tobacco are sold in public and hence they will be advertised and there will be brand ambassadors. I stay away from all this, but that does not make me a saint. If someone drags me into such controversies I will tell them that I stay away from them.” On a side note, the actor said, “People ask me how I still look young at 61 and that is the reason. I stay away from tobacco.”
A nature-lover, Suniel spends a lot of time at his farmhouse near Mumbai. “I have spent some of my best times with my family in the midst of nature. When you come back to work on Mondays after being out
ATHIYA WILL GET MARRIED ONE DAY. TIMES HAVE CHANGED. THE DAUGHTER IS AS RESPONSIBLE AS THE SON AND I WANT THEM TO TAKE THEIR DECISIONS AND MY BLESSINGS ARE ALWAYS THERE — SUNIEL SHETTY
on weekends, it helps you focus. I spend my time gardening, looking at butterflies, figuring out how to attract birds by planting the right kind of trees to nest and feel safe. I know what rainwater harvesting is,” he shares.
Suniel began running his restaurant business at the age of 15, working with his father. The actor feels his business acumen helped him keep his head firmly on his shoulders.
“I am a businessman first and got a chance to establish myself in acting because I had the backing. I have spent 30 years in the film industry and am always ready for work. I was excited 30 years ago and still am. Other actors may put their heads down after a bad Friday but I like to keep my head high always,” says Suniel who has web shows like Dharavi and Invisible Woman coming